Today is the end.

NonNaNo: Lately, I've been feeling so lost and alone. My soul is woeful
NaNo: [Mutters] Absolutely clackety-click. Forty-seven thousand, three hundred sixty three.
NonNaNo: My heart is so heavy! It seems as though I have no where to turn. Except for you. We haven't talked much this past month, and I miss our heart to heart conversations.
NaNo: Absolutely. [feverishly] Forty-seven thousand, three hundred seventy two.
NonNaNo: They improve my outlook so much! So, what's your advice for me?
NaNo: Absolutely. Without a doubt.
NonNaNo: Are you even listening to me? Life is so empty! No one cares about me.
NaNo: [in a preoccupied manner] Absolutely.
NonNaNo: Uhg! The anguish! What shall I do?
NaNo: If you were an elf being chased by a Minotaur, and you were about to fall off a cliff, what would you do? I need help. I'm stuck in my story? What shall I do? I have four thousand words to write. Help!
NonNaNo: [draws up from the floor on which she had been sobbing] Absolutely.


Today is the day. Today is the time. Today is the day that all you poor NaNoWriMo ers desparately scramble to scratch out those last three thousand words. We NonNaNoers, let us take a universal moment of silence to pity those souls.

Perhaps not, let's rejoice! Family of NaNo ers, let's unanimously throw metaphysical hats in the air. Huzzah! After today, our siblings/relatives will return to us! Gone will be the days of lonely contemplation as my beloved sister types and clacks away at the old keyboard.

Tomorrow we celebrate the return of the authors!

Ready yet?

Ready? Huh? Huh? Huh? How 'bout now? Now? NOW?

Can you tell that I am EAGERLY anticipating Christmas? The following are several comics that resonate beautifully with my frame of mind this season of joy, festivity, etc. etc.

Right.

(Click to make bigger)

Up.

Up is the new cool. Cool is not up. Up.

No, I am not talking about a fantastical children's animation. No, I am not referring to a weird song by the second rate country singer Shania Twain. No, I am not mentioning the name of the United Polictics party.

Up is the new positive adjective.

So, Lib, from Random Jotdowns beat me to writing it in a blog post, but I am now announcing the eve of a new term for what used to be "cool." I even have the effrontery to suppose that it could unseat the vague, "awesome. "

WARNING:

"Up" is not for wannabees or for the fainthearted. It must be said with a lazy assurance that conotates absolute conviction. After it is uttered, it may NOT be followed with an explanation. Otherwise, you're trying too hard.

By the way, I am calling down the fury of a thousand evil poodles on whoever wrote the Very Personal Tag that's been going around. Blech. =P

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I AM LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had to let y'all know. Usually, we wait until atfter Thanksgiving, but I couldn't resist. =D

Interesting question:

Do you think that Thanksgiving will slowly become forgotton because it's not a very marketable holiday?

Tournament Attire.

At speech tournaments, we are all required to wear professional... wear. You know, suits and sweaters and pencil skirts and that sort of thing. The type of garment that induces everyone to suppose you are older than you really are. The sort of clothing that, combined with a brisk walk, sends everyone running out of your way, because you look like you have somewhere to be, some deadline to fill, something IMPORTANT to be doing. Professional wear.

Anyhow, as I sat waiting outside of my Apologetics room, I overheard a interesting conversation. A young man woefully said,

"It's not fair. Girls don't have to worry about keeping their shirts tucked in all the time."

"No kidding!" his friend responded. "Plus they don't have to wear ties."

HA! If only they knew. HA! Why? Because girls are supposed to wear hose to be professional. And you can't get much worse than that. Ties and tucked in shirts don't even compare.
Wincing from the pain from my Very Professional, Very Uncomfortable high heels, I turned back to my apologetics box and said nothing.

Hehe! I can't believe I typed out the word: hose! Don't tell anybody. =D

Home Sweet Home!

I have sore feet. From walking around in high heels for a day...
I have chapped lips. From talking way too much...
I have incredibly messy hair. Good thing that's not on the ballot.

G'Night!

Speech Tournament!

"Of course, people are silly to worry. Just because one of of every four boats hits an iceberg, it doesn't mean that we will." ~Dick Winters, Drama on the High Seas. (Bracie and my interpretation piece.)

Today is a Round Robin speech tournament. AAAAAhhhh!

This will be interesting. I suppose tomorrow I'll have lots of hilarious messups to write about. That's a rather disturbing thought.

I. love. Gerber.

And I don't mean baby food. Here are three of my Gerber knives. Aren't they beauts?

The latest acquisition:

Sorry. I am in a violent mood today. Bear with me as best you can.

The fateful twelve...

First, list twelve characters from any fandom, then answer the questions below.

1. Curdie, from the Princess and the Goblin He's the shorter miner.

2. Bertie Wooster, from Jeeves and Wooster


3. Elsie Dimsnore from Elsie Dinsmore. (Prepare yourselves for some Elsie-bashing, people.)

4. Henry Huggins, from Beverly Clearly's work.

5. Johnny Tremain

6. D'Artagnan, from the Three Musketeers

7. Faramir. Because I had to have someone from Lord of the Rings

8. Alice, from Alice in Wonderland

9. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

10. Sunny Baudelaire Series of Unfortunate Events

11. Fay, from That Thing You Do. She's the wardrobe management. Oh yeah. Actually, her job is to hold sunglasses for Guy. (She's Liv Tyler in the middle)

12. Ludovic Lavenham ~The Talisman Ring. He's a exicitable smuggler who likes to shoot people. Tragically, I could not find a picture for him, but he's awesome.

1. Who would make a better collage prof, 6 or 11? D'Artagnan is rather lacking in the brains department, so probably Fay. She could teach music I guess.

2. Do you think #2 is hot? Okayyyyyy. Not my preferred adjective. Bertie Wooster? He thinks mustaches are goodlooking. Need I say more?

3. 12 sends 8 out on a mission. What is it? Does it succeed? Ludovic sends Alice on a mission. Hmmm. I think he would tell Alice to marry Beau Lavenham so that she could inspect his jewelry collection for a talisman ring. Yeah. Actually, that's scarily realistic.

4. What is or what would be 9's favorite book? Mrs. PiggleWiggle's favorite book would probably be 1001 Recipies for Delicious Cookies. That woman is a gem.

. Would it make more since for 2 to swear fealty to 6, or the other way around? Bertie Wooster would swear fealty to any scary-dude with a sword, and then promptly forget about it. D'Artagnan would swear fealty to any pretty girl who chanced his way. As Bertie is not a pretty woman and as D'Artagnan is a scary-looking dude with a sword, I think Bertie would swear fealty. And Jeeves would get him out of it, of course.

.6. For some reason, 5 is looking for a roommate. Should (s)he room with 9 or 10? Johnny Tremain should stay with Mrs. Piggle Wiggle so she can cure him of all his vices. Everyone should stay with Mrs. PW.

.7. 2, 7 and 12 are going out to dinner. Where do they go and what do they discuss? Bertie Wooster, Ludovic Lavenham, and Faramir. Wow. First of all, Bertie only came because his Aunt Agatha made him. He takes everybody to the "Mottled Oyster" a cheap nightclub. Although he tries to tell the party about the prize he won for scripture knowledge in grammar school, Faramir and Ludovic start fighting. (Of course.) Faramir is convinced that a flaming arrow can do as much damage as a pistol. Ludovic disagrees. They start firing projectiles at the candlebra in an attempt to prove their marksmanship.

8. 3 challenges 10 to a duel, who wins?

Sunny easily wins. In the first place, Elsie is such a coward that the only person she can challenge is a baby. But right before Sunny immobilzes Elsie with her razor-teeth, Elsie calls for her daddy. Coward.

9. If 1 stole 8's most precious possession, how would (s)he get it back? Curdie would never, ever, ever steal. It goes against everything in him.

10. Suggest a story title in which 7 and 12 both attain what they desire. Hmmm. Faramir's desire is Eowyn. Ludovic's desire is a golden ring. How to fit that in a title?

11. What kind of plot device would you have to use if you wanted 1 and 4 to work together? I'd tell Curdie that Henry Huggins was surronded by goblins who were mussing his hair. Then Curdie would appear, full of powerful rhymes to drive 'em away.

12. If 7 visited you for the weekend, how would it go? Great! We'd give each other haircuts. And go riding. And I'd make Faramir teach me archery. Plus, we'd get into metaphysical discussions on the proper method for running a nation.

13. If you could command 3 to perform any service or task for you, what would it be? What could Elsie do for me? I don't think she CAN do ANYTHING! I know: I'd get her to knit a purse for me, just so I could keep her occupied and AWAY FROM ME!

14. Does anyone on your friends list write or draw 11? Nope. Poor Sunny isn't exactly a romantic figure.

If 2 had to choose sides between 4 and 5, what side would (s)he choose? Bertie would ask Jeeves, and then do whatever he'd say.

16. What might 10 shout out while charging into battle? Sunny can't talk yet.

17. If you had to choose a song to best describe 8, what would it be? I haven't a clue.

18. 1, 6 and 12 are having a dim sum at a Chinese Restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left, and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets it?

Curdie, D'Artagnan, Ludovic. Hmmm. D'Artagnan would challenge Ludovic to a duel over it. While they fought, Curdie would promptly snatch and eat it.

19. What would be a good pickup line for 2 to say to 10? I think Sunny is a little young for Bertie.

20. What would 5 most likely be arrested for?

Well, he WAS arrested for stealing a silver cup, but he was innocent.

21. What is 6's secret? D'Artagnan likes to fancy himself full of secrets. Which one to choose?

22. If 11 and 9 were racing to a destination, who would get there first? Definitely Fay. Athletics isn't Mrs. PW's thing.

23. If you had to walk home through a bad neighborhood late at night, who would you feel more comfortable walking with, 7 or 8? Absolutely Faramir. Alice isn't exactly physically powerful.

24. 1 and 9 reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4's sinister secret organization. 11 volunteers to help them,but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4. Meanwhile, 4 has kidnapped 12 in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5, they seek out 3, who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fic? Curdie and Mrs. PW, team up against Henry? No. They like children. Fay isn't subtle enought to spy, Henry is incapable of capturing Ludovic, and Elsie couldn't complete anything. Coward.

Whew! That's a long tag. I hope I didn't bore you to tears. I hope you actually know who some of those characters are.

Anywho, I tag:

Phil Wordy,

Bethany

Equus Delirus

SPLUFF!

SPLUFF! Spluff.

Spluff. It is the melodiac sound of...

A cream pie hitting you in the face!

My friend, Quipster. came up with that particular onomatopoeia. Many thanks. I'm addicted to saying it. If I had more time, I think I would bake a cream pie exclusively for the pleasure of spluffing some hapless soul in the face with it.

Speaking of time, I don't have much of that elusive stuff to spend blogging. So, go read Problematic's awesome blog. She does things like waltz in the rain and ponder the meaning of gummy bears.

Besides, if you read my blog too much longer, you're liable to get hit in the face with a cream pie.

Swamped.

Properly practiced creativity can lift your claims out of the swamp of sameness and make them accepted, believed, persuasive, urgent. William Bernbach.

Just so ya'll know, I am in the swamp of sameness. Up to my waist in it. Expository essays are the epitome of the swamp of sameness.

Music and Worship

This is the only version of Paul Balouche/Brenton Brown's Glorious I could find on youtube. I love this song! It was really cool to be able to see both writers perform this song separately and see their different takes on the same song.

Last night, we also got to see Newworldson which was crazy awesome. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed the performance. Here's one of the songs we got to hear:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKGOnAQllP0&feature=channel

Concerts are so amazing, amazing, amazing.

Comment tag (If you read this, you've gotta comment) : Who performed at the last concert you went to?

Musicians Unite!

This weekend, I am attending a musician's worship conference-ish thingy. It's amazing, but the days are long! So hang in there while I'm gone!

For me it's been an excellent time of worship, despite the fact that I can't sing because I don't have a voice.

Bye!

Me poooor neglected readers!

I haven't ex'zackly been feeling on the top of things lately, so you must excuse my infrequent posting.

And now, for some amazing news...

Giles is now 13! Huzzah! Happy Birthday!!!

He is insanely awesome, to put it into verbal terms.

Good Morning!

Last night I awoke from Deep and Relaxing Sleep. In, fact, I was rather pleased with myself at having got up some fifteen minutes or so before the old alarm sounded the cry. Now, self-satisfaction is hardly ever an acceptable emotion, but it is capital motivation when it comes to getting up early.

There's nothing like sitting around with a group of kids at some function or another and after listening to so-and-so say, "I got up at 6:00" and after hearing what's-his-name say, "I got up at 5:45," have the ability to announce, "Well! I've been up since 4:00!"

Of course, the triumph is a small reward for having to get up at four.

Anyway, on this particular instance, I got up, yawned, stretched and what-not. I jumped out of my pjs and into a pair of clean clothes. I walked to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and washed my face.


Why is this the least bit interesting? Read on.

While scrubbing away at the pearly whites, I glanced out the window at the dark horizon. It was a very literal dark horizon. Odd. It's usually lighter than this at 6:30. However, I brushed the thought away with recollections of the recent daylight savings.

Then I noticed that my entire family was already up. And it's not exactly common for my siblings to be up at 6:30, especially if it's dark.

Then, I noticed that the dinner dishes were still on the table.

Then, I noticed that my dear mother and father weren't back yet from the dinner they had gone to the night before.


Then, I noticed it was still yesterday. I don't think I'll ever take another nap. They are way too confusing.

Yeah, I think I'll step right in the shoes of Einstein.

Awesome video:

I love this video. It is epic.

http://www.archive.org/details/PingPong_1

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”~C.S. Lewis.


Argh! Yes! Brisingr was not long enough! Such a good series! However, I was a little disappointed with the lack of a climax. = ( I was waiting for the climax, waiting, waiting...

And then the book just ended. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Here's another excellent quote by C.S. Lewis:
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
He is such a wise man.




So, per request of Libby, Peach, and Kei, I am posting these videos.

Do not feel obligated to watch it. You probably won't be amused.

A laugh for all you NaNoWriMo-ers:

Here is a hilarious, indispensible quote from William Somerset Maugham:
(It made me burst out in giggles, [yes, giggles mind you] when I first read it)

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

Is that hysterically, tragically true? Boy, do I know it. I am in the process of creating a villain (not for NaNo, for school!) and I have decided to make him as interesting as the main character. Huh. Easier said than done.

Anyway, here's some inspiration for you writers:





I am convinced that most bloggers decrease posting by half in November, if they are doing NaNo. Not that I blame them or anything.

Here's to NaNo-ers! Best wishes to you and have fun writing. I hope your eye's don't dry out from staring at the computer screen!

Church Bus Trip!

Yesterday was the delightful church bus trip. We sang the Sound of Music, danced the Chicken dance (and the bunny hop) discussed the meaning of life as it relates to toenails, listened to a beautiful sermon, worshipped, fellow-shipped, played soccer, and altogether had a jolly time.

My entire family succeeded (like we always do) in getting absolutely no photographs. We are quite adept at always forgetting the camera. However, there was an abundance of cameras on the bus. The count ended somewhere around 10. I took unwilling part in multiple camera wars. Here's some proof (blurry, because they're taken from a video camera) that I won a couple battles. All of these persons at some point or another participated. I missed the last five people. And I didn't get a picture of Problematic(See bloglist in sidebar). =P

I got some videos with my Flip, Audie. Sort of. They're rather... unprofessional. Of course, all my videos are, but these ones are particularly incoherent...

Peach dropped her candy on the floor and was forced to blow the germs off. Hence the picture.